The focus on “health” in the media has skyrocketed over the last year or so – with shows like The Biggest Loser, Losing It with Jillian, and The Style Network’s Ruby giving America a “real life look” at our major health issues relating to weight.

I’d been hearing murmurs about the new ABC show, “Huge“, for a little while… but seeing as it’s a drama and not actual people made me less than interested in exploring it (though one could debate that “reality shows” have become about as “real” as your average soap opera). But then I started to see bits and pieces of commentary popping up around the blogosphere – becoming more and more frequent as days passed. I decided against reading any personal reviews – good or bad – and give you my honest, very real, very immediate opinion of the show… as I watch it.

Here’s the Hulu synopsis:

Huge is a compelling new original drama series from ABC Family about teens from different backgrounds as they attend weight loss camp and embark on a journey of self discovery. The series will follow the emotional journey of the campers as they deal with issues including self-esteem, friendship, rivalry, romance and body image.

Friendship, rivalry, and body image! Sounds like a hoot.

I guess there is where I say “spoilers ahead” – I’m pressing play!

2:10 Okay, two things right off the bat… I’m super stoked on the “fashionista fat girls”, or what have you. They exist! They are not any different from regular teenage girls. Trust. I keep having to remind myself that this show is not necessarily setting out to promote healthy body image, but instead over-dramatizing the reality of negative body image. So when I see things like:

“Oh my god, you’re so thin…”
“No, I’m not.”
“Oh my god, yes you are, look at me…”

I have to batten the eye-twitch-hatches and recall that the goal of this show is not likely to help anyone. We’ll see.

2:30 Okay, off topic fangirl moment: Oh my god Gina Torres is in this?! SHE IS AWESOME, TD LOVES FIREFLY.

Commercial break commentary: So, I thought the crazy striptease was rad. And the aftershock-complete-mortification – oh yeah. That’s good stuff. The opening credits could use a little work. I get the feeling this is going to be “people are fat because they eat too much”-centric. That could get irritating.

8:02 OH GOD, THINSPIRATION.

10:00 Is this show going to have every camp stereotype? We have the no-messin’-around leader, the overly enthusiastic camp counselor, the Jillian Michaels-esque fitness chick and the oh-my-god-so-dreamy other… fitness… guy. All we need now is the crusty-wisdom-spouting cafeteria employee. Also, why is the blonde chick a) the only blonde chick and b) the only one wearing makeup and c) the only one that’s getting any type of pavement for romantic plotline?

20:42 I have to say, they did a good job of portraying the dreaded “Hey, come sit on my lap” situation. When you’re conscious of that ish, it is the scariest thing on Earth.

Commercial break commentary: I really, really hate commercials. Also, I’m really over this “blonde chick who attracts dudes never has a hair out of place, and has no visible flaws” business.

25:00 Come on, really? Sweatpant fabric doesn’t rip like that, guysss. Oh, and lest we not forget the blonde getting into an inappropriate romance with a much older authority figure. I’m sure that will be addressed…

33:39 I’m not really stoked on the “fat kids can’t handle having food around”! Plays into my aforementioned “Fat people are fat because they eat too much” myth that is only seeming to be perpetuated here.

35:35 OH GINA TORRES, YOU’RE SO UNDERSTA… oh, nevermind.

38:00 OH GINA TORRES, YOU’RE SO UNDERSTANDING.

Also, I see what they’re trying to do with the Wil character. The whole “you just think I’m unhealthy because I’m fat! It’s a load of crap! I love myself as I am!” That’s not an entirely uncommon perspective, especially over the last few years. The “fat acceptance” idea is becoming popularized – particularly via blogging – but I have to be candid and mention that it’s not entirely valid. It’s not a blanket idea that you can throw across everyone. The idea that all fat people are unhealthy might not be 100% true – but if you have an uncontrollable disorder that’s keeping you overweight, or making it difficult to achieve a “healthy” weight – you’re not healthy, by definition. I’m all for loving yourself as you are – don’t get me wrong. But I’m also for treating your body in the way that will produce your desired results. For instance, I smoke cigarettes – I know it’s gross. I don’t do it to lose weight, I don’t do it for any reason other than the fact that I enjoy it. Will I curse the universe when I start coughing up a lung at 60? No, because I signed up for it. Same goes with weight situations, in my mind, anyway. Random speech over.

Oh, also show over.

Well. I’m not entirely unhappy with it. It was super boring and predictable there for a while… And there are definitely some perpetuated stereotypes involved, but – speaking from fat kid experience – they are accurately displaying a lot of the very true, very intensely lame parts of having negative body image in your teenage years. I really hope they ditch the “cute blonde” act with Amber/Sandra, and get rid of the “omg fat people want food all the time” cop-out, but overall, the show doesn’t seem to be too harmful in the first episode.

Have you seen Huge? What were your thoughts on it?

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